OPINION: Letter to the Editor: Tolerance and the evolution of values

From his letter of May 13, I gather that Mr. Kettenhofen is not pleased with me or my views. I have re-read the two letters he refers to, and, know what? I think I am correct! The statement "equated my religion with the Taliban" (his words) is his interpretation of a reference that parts of the Christian religion and of the Moslem religion (in this case the Taliban, a sect, not a religion) seem to want to maintain 12th century values and intolerances. His take on my May 2 letter suggesting the world would be better off if tolerance of other's views were more widespread was: "But this type of thinking leads to a spread of evil" To bolster his view he referred to 1 Corinthians: 17-31.

A long time ago, I bought a used Bible. Turns out that it was from the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church. I read Corinthians, all the way through because I found nothing to support his claims in 17-31. What I did find were some other references that bolster my views. I recommend that everyone read Corinthians. Doesn't take much time and is illuminating. For examples: Prejudice against women is noted; the need for change over time is noted; and others.

Then I went to a dictionary for the meaning of sin. Transgression against the Word of God by action or neglect. Says nothing about whose God or the what constitutes the "Word of God"! And I think this is the center of my, and Mr. Kettenhofen's problem. I am an Agnostic and a firm believer that everyone needs/deserves his/her own guiding spirit. I also believe that "God and religion" is a creation of man, not the other way around. Dates back to the first human who recognized the concept as a way to gain power and it has worked well. Apparently, too, the concept did not originate in one place even if the bases for the myths and legends did. Good examples are the vast similarities between the legends and myths of the Old Testament, the epic of Gilgamesh, and the Baghvadgita. The Bible, itself, is a marvelous work, but it is a person's faith that gives it truth, not the other way around. Historically the New Testament is a shambles given the massive conflict between different "Christian" views in the first couple of centuries A.D. the political manipulation by Constantine to use Christianity to serve his needs by emphasizing faith and obedience and eliminating the Gnostic ideas that knowledge and accomplishment were of value. Add to this the fact that until the Gutenburg Bible, copies were hand written largely by illiterate scribes and subject to subjectivity, and that the King James version (1611) was created to benefit King James. The Word of God it is not beyond the faith of those who wish it to be. And their views should be honored, but not be forced on others.

But for most of the world, values, ethics, and morals do change over time and so does the Word of God in reflection of those changes and so does the meaning of sin. So, yes to Mr. Kettenhofen, I think he is correct in his appraisal; I am tolerant of sin, but only according to his views of the word of God that seems not to recognize change. And I still feel that tolerance between religious view does not lead to the spread of evil! Certainly in my world that recognizes change.